The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-12-02
WRECK OF THE STEAM BARGE
JOHNSON.-THE LIFE SAVING
SERVICE

In our hastily prepared account last
week of the wreck of the steam barge
johnson, eight miles south of this city,
on Thursday morning last week, a few
particulars were omitted which may
be of interest to at least some of our
readers. One of the methods of the
life-saving service in rescuing people
from wrecked vessel is not familiar
to all. The life-saving crew in this
city, On being notified by telegraph of
the wrecked vessel, proceeded at once
to the scene of the disaster, taking
with them the apparatus and appli-
ances used in cases of this kind, con.
ssting of surf boat, cannon, lines, etc.
The vessel was about two hundred
yards from shore and the men on the
vessel occupying only small space on
the bow of the boat, all the rest of it
being submerged in water. Their long
exposure had rendered them weak, and
they could not have held out much
longer. The beach apparatus having
been put in position, a projectile with
rope attached was thrown from the
cannon intended to fall on the vessel.
The first cannon discharged missed it's
purpose; second discharge carried
the rope where those on the wreck
were able to lay hold of it. The.method
by which the other necessary lines
were sent to the vessel need not be de
scribed; by the help of these that con-
veyance called the "breeches buoy"
was made to do its proper Office. 1t is
an apparatus made to slide on the
shore line rope, capable of being occu-
pied by but one person at a time, and
cannot sink in water. Placed in the
breeches buoy. the men on board in
turn were drawn to shore; it was a
watery ride over, or through the rough
sea, but probably the most joyous these
rescued men ever experienced. The
life-saving crew in Kenosha are de-
serving of the highest praise; they are
we'll disciplined and ready at mo-
ment's call.
The life.saving service was establish
ed by the government many years ago,
and of late years has been brought to
great efficiency. The men now EN-.
ployed are trained and educated for
the duties assigned them; they can
manage an oar boat in turbulent sea
where an Impractical crew would be
quickly swamped. New life-saving
stations have been added on the great
chain of western lakes, and their USE
fulness is becoming yearly more appre-
ciated. The number of lives that have
been saved during the present season
of navigation is large probably greater
than any former year. Of the twelve
men who were rescued from the steam
barge johnson and her consort it is
hardly probable that one of them
would have been saved but for the
life-saving crew. Not far from the
time of this wreck, the schooner
Halsted, a few miles further south,
was disabled and threatened with loss
of all on board. The life-saying crew
at Evanston encountered the fearful
hazard of rough sea, and rescued the
men on the vessel, nine in number,
bringing them to shore, where they
were kindly provided for. Other
wrecking of vessels occurred during
the same storm on the west shore of |
Lake Michigan, in which the life-sav-
ing crews were active in saving life.
Since the foregoing was put in type
the annual report of the Superinten |
dent of the Life-saving Service has
been received, from which the great |
of the work can be gained. |
There are now in the whole country
21S life-saving stations, of which forty
four are on the lakes, and the balance
On the Atlantic and other coasts. The
vessel disasters brought to the atten.